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Monday, April 18, 2011

“For every one, as I think, must see that astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another”.

Glaucon, the older brother of Plato, in Plato's The Republic, c. 380 BCE

Traditionally, the April full moon is known as the Pink Moon because the grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Also known as Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and – among coastal tribes – the Full Fish Moon, when the shad come upstream to spawn.

The first full moon of spring, however, is also known as the Paschal Full Moon. Traditionally, Easter is observed on the Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon.

Every April I can see the moon dropping over downtown Miami as it shines into my bedroom at 5:00 A.M. It is impossible not to conjure up the song MOON OVER MIAMI when faced with this glorious lunar vision.

And while the lyrics do not reflect exact personal experiences of my subtropical oasis, it none-the-less is understandable why the sight provoked this romantic jazz ditty. . It was written in 1935 by Joe Burke and Edgar Leslie and recorded by many over the years: Glenn Miller, Ray Charles, Eddy Duchin, Vaughn Monroe and even Buddy Holly & the Comets.

Moon over MiamiShine on my love and meSo we can stroll beside the rollOf the rolling sea

Moon over MiamiShine on as we beginA dream or two that may come trueWhen the tide comes in

Hark to the song of the smiling troubadoursHark to the throbbing guitarsHear how the waves offer thunderous applause